The middle and working classes have been hit hard by these economic policies that favor the upper-end "donor class." This "establishment" abandonment of America's middle- and working-class voters is a "YUGE" issue in this year's presidential election, driving the insurgent campaigns of Sanders and Trump. In an example of how the Carrier layoffs are driving this, The Indianapolis Star reported on Trump's campaign announcement, in April's "Trump opens Indiana campaign by blasting Carrier, Republican nominating process":
"'You're looking at a situation where the jobs are being ripped out of our states, out of our country, like candy from a baby,' he said.
"He lambasted massive layoffs at air conditioner manufacturer Carrier's plant in Indianapolis. The company and its affiliates announced in February they would eliminate 2,100 Indiana jobs as they move production to Mexico. The layoffs have been a favorite target of Trump, who said Wednesday he would 'tax the hell' out of the company.
"'You're going to bring it across the border, and we're going to charge you a 35 percent tax,' he said. 'Now within 24 hours they're going to call back. 'Mr. President, we've decided to stay. We're coming back to Indianapolis.'"
While the economic picture moves many voters toward both Sanders and Trump, it appears that Sanders is the one getting much of the support of the Carriers workers themselves. Dave Jamieson, also writing at HuffPo, has an article headlined "Union Representing Laid-Off Carrier Workers Endorses Bernie Sanders":
"The Carrier workers found themselves in the national spotlight after a video emerged in February that showed a company executive informing them that their jobs were going to Mexico. Since then, the Carrier story has worked its way into the stump speeches of presidential candidates on both the left and the right, as they have pilloried the company for its plans to offshore 2,100 jobs.
"Workers at the plant are represented by the United Steelworkers Local 1999, based in Indianapolis. ...
"Hugunin said the union decided to back Sanders because of his consistency in opposing trade deals such as the North American Free Trade Agreement, which removed trade barriers between the U.S. and Mexico."
With the Indiana primary on Tuesday, Sanders has been showing up and talking about the Carrier layoffs. Last week WFYI Indianapolis reported:
"As many as a thousand union members and supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders rallied outside the Indiana Statehouse Friday in support of laid-off Carrier factory workers.
"Sanders' last-minute appearance at the protest came days before Tuesday's primary election, where the Carrier story has taken center stage.
"The diverse crowd on the statehouse lawn wielded signs reading 'Keep it made in America' and 'Save our jobs, stop corporate greed,' and chanted union slogans like 'stand up, fight back.'
"Many of them were there just for Sanders, who gave an energetic speech calling Carrier's plans to close its Indianapolis factory and move 1,400 jobs to Mexico 'unbelievable.'"
We will see after the polls close Tuesday how this affects the Indiana primary.
Racing To The Bottom
Moving jobs to Mexico and other low-wage countries impoverishes American workers and devastates entire regions of the country, while enriching executives and Wall Street shareholders. Our country used to "protect" our democracy with its good wages and environmental protections by assessing a tariff on goods coming from countries that exploit workers and the environment. This prevented the cost savings gained from this kind of exploitation from undermining American workers and their quality of life.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
1
1
1
